Name: What To Serve With Jerk Pork
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 portion jerk pork

Table of Contents

If you’re wondering what to serve with your jerk pork, you’ve come to the right place.

In this article, I list 14 of the most popular side dishes for jerk pork.

In a rush? Here’s the short answer.

The best side dishes to serve jerk pork are red cabbage coleslaw, rice and peas, and peach and tomato salad. You can also serve a pineapple pico de gallo or mango salsa. For more indulgent options, there’s baked mac and cheese, creamy potato salad, or sweet potato mash.

Ready? Let’s jump right in.

Chipotle’s cilantro lime rice

This cilantro lime rice (a Chipotle copycat recipe) makes a wonderful bed for jerk pork.

It’s light, fluffy, and overloaded with freshness which adds a cool contrast to your smoky pork.

And the whole thing comes together in just 25 minutes.

Thinking of using brown rice instead of white – no problem!

Red cabbage slaw

Add some crunch to your plate with this 10-minute red cabbage slaw.

The tangy apple cider dressing adds some acidity, which will cut right through the deep, savory flavors of the pork

And the cayenne pepper provides a nice background heat.

Check out the little sunny kitchen for the full recipe. She uses carrots as well to add even more color to the dish.

Mashed sweet potatoes

Complete your island meal with a smooth sweet potato mash.

The secret ingredient in this mash is cinnamon.

The festive spice adds warmth to the whole dish and melds well with the jerk seasoning.

Let Jill teach you how to get the perfect buttery sweet potato mash.

Psst… classic mashed potatoes would work well too.

Pineapple pico de gallo

Want a fun way to serve your jerk pork?

Serve it in some tacos with an array of salsas!

My favorite salsa is pineapple pico de gallo – the addition of juicy pineapples makes it feel tropical and gives it a summery feel.

Check out the full recipe for this fruity dip here.

Psst… Don’t fancy tacos? Serve this with some tortilla chips instead.

Homemade applesauce

Pork chops and applesauce is a classic British dinner.

The sweet-but-sharp flavors of the apple perfectly balance out the meaty pork.

And it goes great with jerk pork too!

Joe’s top tip for great-tasting applesauce is to use two or three different kinds of apples, so you get multiple layers of flavor.

Get her recipe here.

Grilled asparagus

Sometimes the best side for a bold main like jerk pork is a simple one.

These grilled asparagus are seasoned with a basic mix of salt and pepper, letting the vegetables natural earthy flavor shine through.

And when you cook them just right, the spears get a gorgeous crisp on the outside while remaining tender on the inside.

Rice and peas

If you want to stick with the classics – go for some Jamaican rice and peas.

The peas are actually kidney beans, and the rice is flavored with coconut milk, scotch bonnets, and a sprinkling of allspice.

This recipe is a world away from plain white rice!

Psst… fancy a fusion meal? Try this Spanish rice and beans.

Peach and tomato salad

Tomato and peach may sound like an odd combination but trust me, it’s delicious.

Especially when they’re both drizzled with a herbaceous pesto dressing.

It’s a lovely refreshing salad for a hot summer’s day, and it will look amazing on your dinner table.

This peach and tomato salad is a must-try.

Air fryer plantain chips

Looking for a crunchy accompaniment to your jerk pork?

These plantain chips are super easy to make at home – especially if you have an air fryer.

You’ll only need four ingredients and 15 minutes of cooking time.

Warning! You won’t be able to stop munching on these air fryer plantain chips.

Grilled corn on the cob

Grilled corn on the cob is a simple but delicious side dish.

But why not shake things up by brushing your corn with chili lime butter?

It’ll give your sweet corn a punchy, spicy flavor, making it even more perfect for serving with the body-flavored jerk pork.

Check out how to make these grilled chili lime corn on the cob here.

Baby red potato salad

Potato salads are great for feeding a crowd.

Everyone has their go-to recipe, but I’m a big fan of this baby red potato salad.

The potatoes are tossed in a creamy dressing made with mayo, mustard, and herbs. Some chopped green bell peppers and red onions are added, and that’s it.

Quick and easy.

Mango salsa

Looking for an easy but interesting side to pair with your Jamaican jerk pork?

This 5-ingredient mango salsa can be made in ten minutes flat.

It’s brimming with bright flavors that will hold their own against the pork, and keep the meal feeling light.

Jamaican style greens

Your pork is the protein, so now you need something green.

Enter: Jamaican style greens.

Callaloo is a common leafy vegetable in the Caribbean, but for those of us outside of the Caribbean – we’ll have to make do with collard greens.

Pro tip: make a double batch of this because you can eat it for breakfast too (it will certainly be a wake-up call if you make it spicy).

Southern-style mac and cheese

This mac and cheese will bring a delicious Southern flair to your jerk party.

What makes it southern?

LOTS of cheese, some eggs for richness, and of course a hint of spice from the cajun seasoning.

The creaminess of this Southern-style baked mac and cheese will help mellow out your jerk seasoning.

The best side dishes for jerk pork

Chipotle’s cilantro lime rice
Red cabbage slaw
Mashed sweet potatoes
Pineapple pico de gallo
Homemade applesauce
Grilled asparagus
Rice and peas
Peach and tomato salad
Air fryer plantain chips
Grilled corn on the cob
Baby red potato salad
Mango salsa
Jamaican style greens